Greater Wilmington Pizza Week Continues Through June 8

Pizza is a $46.98 billion industry in the United States, and its appeal is evident in the First State. Options range from small standalone pizzerias to Rehoboth Beach-based Grotto Pizza, which has more than 20 locations. 

The industry receives its due on National Pizza Day, which is Nov. 12 this year. But that’s not enough time to salute Wilmington’s favorite “pie.”

Greater Wilmington Pizza Week, which started June 3, continues until June 8. There’s still time to win a prize; you only need to visit two places to enter.

The promotion is co-sponsored by St. Anthony’s Italian Festival, June 9-16, which is marking its 50th anniversary. 

Try a New Slice

The event is co-sponsored by Out & About Magazine and IN Wilmington, which promotes the city, 

“We created the event to help showcase pizza shops because they are a cornerstone business in their neighborhoods and communities,” explained Julie Miro Wenger, managing partner of Event Allies, which organized the promotion. 

“We are interested in helping promote locally owned businesses that drive our neighbors to try something new in their community,” she continued. “Hence the tagline ‘Try a New Slice.’”

For instance, you could visit a participating restaurant that you’ve wanted to try.

Restaurants include Café Riviera, Gallucio’s Italian Restaurant, Grotto Pizza’s locations on Concord Pike and Pennsylvania Avenue, Nick’s Pizza, Mazzella’s Italian Restaurant, La Pizzeria Metro, Pizza by Elizabeths, Pizzeria Mariana, Prima’s Pizza and V&M Bistro.

You can also order the eateries’ more experimental pizzas. 

For example, V&M on Marsh Road in Brandywine Hundred has added two Neapolitan-style options with chicken, one with Buffalo sauce and another with barbecue sauce. 

Outside the Box

Greater Wilmington Pizza Week also draws attention to the diverse restaurants that offer it and how each one occupies a niche.

“Pizza is having a rising of sorts in New Castle County,” said Robbie Jester, who owns Pizzeria Mariana in Newark. “With a focus on artisanal and quality ingredients, it’s not about the dollar slice anymore, it’s about the best slice.” 

For instance, Pizza By Elizabeths is a full-service Greenville restaurant with creative cocktails and pizzas named after famous Elizabeths. Meanwhile, V&M Bistro is an upscale Italian restaurant that is as famous for its pizzas as it is for its veal dishes.

Café Riviera in the Concord Mall, Gallucio’s in 40 Acres and Mazzella’s in the Bellefonte area are iconic Italian restaurants with generations of customers. Grotto is known for its family-friendly fare and sports bars.

Nick Vouras, whose family owns Kozy Korner in Little Italy, built a following for Nick’s Pizza with popup events featuring his rectangular Detroit-style pizza with high, crunchy sides formed by Wisconsin cheese. His new shop is near Price’s Corner.

“I guess, luckily, I can say Detroit-style pizza helped me get open,” he said. “At the storefront, it’s taken a step back compared to the round pizzas, but they still sell well.” 

For the most part, many Delawareans like a thin, round crust, he noted.

Enter to Win

Event organizers created the downloadable Pizza Week Pie Tracker to encourage pizza fans to “expand their palate.” Customers can also pick up a tracker at the participating restaurants. 

Once the tracker has at least two participating restaurants’ insignias, entrants can take a photo of the tracker and send it to [email protected]. 

There will be three randomly selected winners. The grand prize is $250 in gift certificates to select restaurants. Second place is $100 in gift certificates, and third is a $50 gift certificate to one venue.

Thus far, the promotion has been popular, said Jester. 

“Pizza Week is amazing and, as we found out yesterday, an extremely popular way to take a tasty tour through the best pies in the county,” he said.